Local GPs facing a crisis, according to Lib Dem survey

A third of North-east GPs would likely choose a different career and more than a quarter say they have an unmanageable workload, according to a survey by the Scottish Liberal Democrats.

The findings were unveiled in a report “The Crisis in Scottish Primary Healthcare”, which analyses the responses of 389 GPs at 352 practices across Scotland. In Grampian 38 GPs replied to the survey.

Nationally it revealed that one in four respondents said their workload was unmanageable; half of GPs backed the abolition of the Quality and Outcomes Framework; some 44.74% of respondents were unaware of the Scottish Government’s primary care plan; of those aware of the plan, 76.19% said the plan was not sufficient to address the challenges; more than a fifth of respondents stated that they would not choose to be a GP again if given the choice.

North East MSP Alison McInnes said: “I have had complaints from GPs and patients as local surgeries face growing pressures. There is a looming crisis as it becomes more and more difficult to recruit enough GPs. I have urged the Scottish Government to tackle this head on.”